'fl 975 
B88 
opy 1 



GEOGRAPHY 



AND 



HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES, CHIEF TOWNS, CITIES, 
ISLANDS, CAPES, RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, LAKES, 
BAYS ; ALSO, OF THE SOIL, CLIMATE, 
PRODUCT, MINES, AND CURIOSI- 
TIES OF IRELAND. 



TO WHICH IS ADDED A 



SHORT HISTORY OF IRELAND. 



BY THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS. 



CINCINNATI: 

JOHN P. WALSH, BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER, 

170 SYCAMORE STREET. 

1859. 



f 



^fciW>^ i^ * , ■ *s\% \ :v\ « ^AS a 



A 

GEOGRAPHY 



AND 



HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES, CHIEF TOWNS, CITIES, 
ISLANDS, CAPES, RIVERS, MOUNTAINS, LAKES, 
BAYS ; ALSO, OF THE SOIL, CLIMATE, 
PRODUCT, MINES, AND CURIOSI- 
TIES OF IRELAND. 



TO WHICH IS ADDED A 

SHORT HISTORY OF IRELAND 

BY THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS. 



CINCINNATI: 

JOHN P. WALSH, BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER, 
jlii SYCAMORE STREET. 

1859. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, on the 2."»th day of January, 1859, by 

JOHN P. WALSH, 

In the Cleric's Offidfe of the District Court of the Tutted States for the Southern 
District of Ohio. 






BOUNDARIES. 



N. W. and S., the Atlantic Ocean; E., St. 
George's Channel and the Irish Sea. 

It is situated between 51° 19 v and 55° 23 v N. 
lat. ; and between 5° 19 v and 10° 28 v W. long. Its 
greatest length is 30G miles ; breadth, 182. Super- 
ficial content, 31,874 sq. miles, or 20,379,608 acres. 
Population, 8,20-5,382. 

Ireland is divided into 4 provinces, which are sub- 
divided into 32 counties, 252 baronies, and 2,348 
parishes. 

COUNTIES. 

Ulster. — Donegal ; Derry ; Antrim ; Tyrone ; 
Down ; Armagh : Monaghan ; Fermanagh ; Cavan. 

Leinster. — Longford; West Meath; East Meath ; 
Louth; Dublin; Kiidare ; King's County ; Queen's 
County; Wicklow; Wexford; Carlow; Kilkenny. 

Minister. — Tipperary; Waterford; Cork; Kerry; 
Limerick ; Clare. 

ConnaugJit. — Gralway ; Roscommon ; Mayo ; 
Sligo ; Leitrim. 



4 GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 

Ulster, Nine Counties. 

Counties & c£y towns. Remarkable for. Population 

Donegal Mountains, bogs, minerals 289,149 

Donegal Annals of 4 Masters,lC31 830 

Ballyshannon* Salmon and eel fishery 3,735 

Derry Barley, flax & linen trade 222,012 

Berry A long siege, 1689 19,020 

Coleraine Fine linens, called Cole- 5,752 

raines 

Antrim Coal, bog and limestone 225,615 

Belfast Trade and commerce 53,287 

Carrickfergusf A celebrated castle 8,698 

Lisburn Linen, muslin & cambric 5,218 

Ballymena Brown linen, bleach fields 4,063 

Tyrone M'tains, bogs, & fertility 304,468 

Omagh Military head-quarters 2,211 

Dungannon Seat of the kings of Ulster 3,515 
Annylaughan B'th-place of Abp. Hughes, 

of New York, and the 

patriotic O'Neills 

Down Agriculture, manufacture 352,012 

BownpatricJc Shrines of Sts. Patrick, &c 4,784 

Newry Export of provisions and 13,065 

live stock. 

* Bally shannon is so called from the Irish word jBaile, 
a town, a name incorporated with numerous parishes, towns, 
villages, and country residences throughout Ireland. 

*{" Carrickfergns derives its name from Carraig, a rock, 
on which the old castle is built, and from a king named 
Fergus, who is said to have been drowned near it. The 
kindred" names, Carrick-on-Suir, Carrick-on- Shannon, 
&c, are easily understood. 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 5 

Counties & ct' y toxons. Remarkable for. Population. 

Newtonards Manufac. diaper & muslin 4,442 
Donaghadee Scottish packet station 2,986 

Bangor* Abbey founded by St. 

Comgall 2,741 

Armagh Apples, (the Orchard of 

Ireland 220,134 

Armagh^ Metropolitan see 9,189 

Lurgan Manuf. damasks & cambric 2,842 

Monagiian Agricult., mountains, bogs 195,536 
Monaghan Ruins of an old abbey 3,848 

ClonesJ 1st mitred Ab't in Ireland 2,381 

Fermanagh Mountains, bogs & lakes 149,763 

* Bangor, anciently Beanchor, signifies Blessed Choir, a 
name expressive of a part of the avocations of the religious 
who inhabited this place, and who are said to have amounted, 
at one time, to 3,000. The school of Bangor was one of 
the most eminent of its time ; it was resorted to by numbers 
of young persons of distinction, from various parts of Europe, 
and, according to some historians, when King Alfred founded 
the university of Oxford, he sent to the great school of 
Bangor for professors. It was at Bangor the great St. 
Columbanus was educated ; and here, also, that Cormac, 
king of Leinster, spent the latter part of his life. 

f Armagh is derived from Ard, high, and Magh, a plain 
or field, the city being built upon an eminence. Armagh 
was long celebrated for«its monastery and school, founded by 
St. Patrick in 445. It is said, that 7,000 students were at 
one time congregated in this seminary. 

J Clones, anciently Cluain-Inis, " the island of retreat," 
it having been nearly surrounded by water. The term clon 
is also applied to churches, which, in many instances, have 
been erected in retired places ) as Cloyne, Clonfert, &c. 



b GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 

Counties & c*ty toivns. Remarkable for. Population. 

Enniskillen* Fish and water fowl 6,116 

Cavan Minerals & bleach greens 227,933 

Cavan Burial-place of Gen. 

O'Neill, 1649. 2,931 

Cootehill Excellent linen market 2,178 

Leinster, Ttvelve Counties. 



Longford 


Most central co.in Irelaud 


112,558 


Longford 


Flax & linen man'facfcures 


4,354 


Granarcl 


Good corn market 


2,058 


Ballymahon 


Great cattle fairs 


1,081 


Erlgeworthston Birth-pl. Abbe Edgeworth 


1,001 


W. Meats 


Rich pasture land 


136,872 


MulUngar 


An excellent wool market 


4,295 


Athlone 


Called centre of Ireland 


11,406 


Kilbeggan 


Extensive corn trade 


1,895 


Meathj 


Corn, sheep and cattle 


176,826 


Trim 


Ruins of several Abbeys 


3,282 


Navan 


Once famed for its Abbey 


4,416 


KellsJ 


Round tower, 90ft. high 


4,326 



* Eiinislcillen is so called from the Irish word litis, 
(Lat. insula,) an island, the town of Enniskillen being 
built upon an island, in the Erne ; hence the signification 
of such names as have the prefix Inis or Ennis incorpo- 
rated with them. 

f Meath. — In this county, about 5 miles S. E. from Navan, 
is the ancient Tarah, or, as it is sometimes called, Teagh 
mor, " the great house," where the Irish triennial parlia- 
ments were held, until the end of the sixth century. 

\Kells. — The memorable synod of the Irish Clergy, at 
which Cardinal Paparo distributed the four palls to the Arch- 
bishops, was held here in 1152. 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 



Counties & dty towns. Rcmarhahle for. Population. 

Louth Smallest co. in Ireland 124,846 

Droc/hcda Extensive corn trade 17,305 

Dundalk Export corn, butter, eggs 10,078 

Carlingford Excellent oysters 1,319 

Dublin Neat villas & fine demesnes 380,167 

Lublin Splendor of its pub. build. 

Birth-place of the Most ' 

Rev. brothers Kenrick, 

of Baltimore and St. 

Louis 265,316 

Kingstown Superior granite 8,000 

Balbriggan Muslin & stocking manuf. 3,016 

Clontarf Victory of Boroimhe,1014 3,314 

Swords Round tower, 73ft. high 

Kildare Most level co. in Ireland 

Athy A good corn market 

JS T aas Seat of kings of Leinster 

Maynooth College, founded 1795 

of the 



2,537 



108,424 
4,494 
3,808 
2,053 



Castle-Dermot Ancient seat 

O'Dermots 1,385 

Kildare* Religious ruins, r'nd tower 1,753 

Klngs Co.f Woods, bog & limestone 144,225 

* Kildare. — Near this town is the far-famed Curragh, a 
race-course of about 5,000 acres, sometimes called the New- 
market of Ireland, In this neighborhood are bred the best 
horses in the country. 

f King's County. — On the banks of the Shannon, in this 
county, is situated Clonmacnois, anciently Cluain-Mac Nois, 
or the " Retreat of the Sons of the Noble," a name it ob- 
tained from the celebrity of its monastery and schools, which 
attracted numbers of the nobility to study in its halls. Many 
of the Irish kings and princes are here interred. Besides 



8 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 



Counties & c'ty towns. Remarkable for. Population. 


T nil a more 


An excellent corn market 


6,342 


Birr 


The O'Carroll feuds 


6,594 


Banagher 


Horse and cattle fairs 


2,636 


Philips town 


Old seat of O'Connors 


1,454 


Queen's Co. 


Coal, bog & limestone 


145,851 


Maryborough 


Hd.-qrs. of constabulary 


3,220 


Mountmellick 


Cotton & woollen manuf. 


4,597 


Abbeyleix 


Lace manufactory 


5,485 


Portarlington 


An excellent spa 


3,091 


Montrath 


Cotton, stuff & oil manufac 


. 2,593 


WlCKLOW 


Exquisite scenery 


121,557 


Wickloiv 


Export of lead and corn 


2,472 


Arklow 


A bridge of 19 arches 


4,383 


Bray 


Trout fishery 


3,656 


Baltinglass 


Woollen & linen manuf. 


1,619 


Wexford 


Corn and pasture 


182,713 


Wexford 


Woollen cloth & pro vis. 


10,673 


Enniscorthy 


Agricultural produce 


5,955 


New Boss 


Trade with America, &c. 


5,011 


Car low 


Corn, butter, & minerals 


81,988 


Carlo iv 


College & public b'ld'ngs 


9,114 


Leighlinb'iclge 


*Tiuins of Black and White 






Castles 


2,035 



the great monastery, cathedral, and schools, it is said that 10 
churches, built by neighboring princes, with two round tow- 
ers, &c, stood withing the surrounding walls. This place is 
called the Zona of Ireland. 

* Near this village is Old Leiglilin, distinguished in ec- 
clesiastical history for its religious establishments and exten- 
sive schools. The fame which this place had acquired for 
piety and learning attracted such multitudes of students and 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 



9 



Counties & ct 'y 

Tullow 

Kilkenny 

Kilkenny 

Callan 

Thomastown 

Castlecomer 

Urlingford 

Graigue 

Ballyragget 



TlPPERARY 

Clonmel 

Carrick 

Nenagh 

Thurles 

Cashel 

Tipperary 

Roscrea 

Cahir* 

Waterford 

Water ford 
Dungarvan 



towns. Remarkable for. Population. 

Best corn market in the co. 1,929 

198,686 

23,741 
0,111 

3,054 
2,43 (3 
2,400 
2,130 
1,629 



Agriculture and dairies 
Coal, marble, woollens 
. Great antiquity 
Extensive flour mills 
Superior coal mines 
Large cattle fairs 
Ancient castle and abbey 
Birth-pl. of Abp. Butler 

Minister, Six Counties. 

Coal, corn, and cattle 402,503 

Corn, bacon, and butter 15,134 

Largest town unrepres'ted 9,(3 2(3 

Old castle, Nenagh Round 8,440 

Holycross Abbey 7,084 

Seat of kings of Munster 6,971 

Corn and butter market 6,970 

The Shire of St, Cronan 5,512 

Ancient castle and abbey 3,408 
Birth-place of Archbishop 

Walsh, of Halifax 177,054 

Great export of provisions 28,821 

Extensive fishery 6,519 



religious persons to its halls, that the country, for miles 
around, was usually denominated the territory of saints and 
scholars. The number of religious alone is stated to have 
been 1500. 

* Cahir, or Cathair, is the Irish term for city; hence 
the derivation of the numerous names having Cahir incor- 
porated with them. 



10 GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 

Counties & cCy towns. Remarkable for. Population 

Lismore* Anc't monastery and school 2,894 

Tramoret A neat sea-bathing village 2,224 

Cappoquin A Cistercian abbey 1,319 

Cork Largest co. in Ireland. Birth 

place of Bishop England 810,732 

Cork. Great export of provisions 107,016 

Bandon Cotton and flour mills 12,617 

Youghal Irish potato first planted here 9,608 

KinsaleJ A productive fishery 7,312 

Fermoy Extensive barracks 6,9/6 

Cove (lately Birth-place of Bishop O'Con- 

named nor, of Pittsburgh 

Queenstown) 6,966 

* Lismore is derived from the Irish Lios, a habitation, 
and Mor, great, that is, u the gieat habitation or monas- 
tery," which St. Cartbagh founded here in 633. The 
schools of Lismore were celebrated all over Europe ; thither 
multitudes of foreigners thronged to study religion, science, 
and literature, not only from England, but from the most 
distant parts of the continent, all of whom were most cheer- 
fully received, and "supplied gratis/' as Ven. Bede testi- 
fies, " with food, books, and instruction." King Alfred is 
said to have received his education here. — Lismore, at one 
time, contained twenty parish churches. 

"j" Tramore is a contraction of the Irish words, Traigli- 
mor, signifying " the great strand;" hence Tralee, " the 
strand of the Lee," &c. 

J Kinsale is supposed to have derived its name from 
Cean, a head, and Saile, the sea; either in reference to the 
promontory called Old Head, which stands out in the sea, 
or the head of the harbor itself, where the town is situated; 
hence Kinvara, which literally signifies M head of the sea;" 
vara, or mara } being the genitive case of muir } another 
name for sea. 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 



11 



Counties & c'ty 

Mallow 



Ban try 

Doneraile 

Cloyne 

Kerry 

Tralee 

Killarney 

Dingle 

Cahirciveen* 

Ardfert 

Limerick 

Limerick 

Rathkeale 

A da re 

Askeaton 

Kilmallock 

Clarej 

Ennis 

Kilrush 

Eunistymon 

KillaloeJ 



towns. Remarkable for. Population. 

Mineral waters. Birth-place 
of the Most Rev. and 
Very Rev. brothers Pur- 
cell, of Cincinnati. 5,229 
A fine bay and scenery 4,216 
Beautiful scenery 2,652 
Round tower, 102ft. high 2,228 
Small cattle, {Kerry coivs) 263,126 
Mineral springs 9,352 
Lakes and scenery 7,910 
Most west'ly town in Irel'd 4,327 
Birth-pl. of D. 0'Connell,Esq 1,192 
Once, seat of a university 929 
Pasture, corn, and fruit 315,355 
Siege and treaty, 1690-1 66,354 
Horse and cattle fairs 4,972 
Excellent cider 4,364 
Magnificent ruins 1,515 
The Irish Baalbec 1,213 
Excelleut horses 258,322 
A fine Gothic abbey 7,«11 
Provisions and flag-stones 3,996 
Ancient seat of O'Briens 1,430 
Salmon and eel fishery 1,411 



* Situated on Valentia Bay, Atlantic Telegraph Station. 

•(* Clare was anciently called Thomond, that is, North 
Munster, in reference to Desmond, or South Munster, Or- 
mond, or East Munster, &c. 

J KUlaloe. — Near this town stood the ancient Kinkord, 
the palace of Brian Boroimhe, monarch of Ireland, and of 
his immediate successors. 



12 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 



Connauglit, Five Counties. 



Co unties & dty towns. Remarkable for. Population. 

Galway Greatest number of lakes 414,684 

Gdlway Extensive fisheries and 

American packet station 33,120 

Tuam Cathedral and College 6,883 

Loughrea Abundance of poultry 6,285 

Ballinasloe Large cattle fairs 4,615 

Roscommon Corn, bog and pasture 249,630 

Roscommon* Shrine of St. Coman 3,306 

Athlonej Repeated sieges,( 1690-1) 11J406 

Boyle Trout of excellent quality 3,433 

Elphin B'th-pl. Oliver Goldsmith 1,507 

Mayo Bogs, lakes and pasturage 365,328 

Castlebar A good linen market 6,373 

Balliua Valuable salmon fishery 5,510 

Westporfc Cotton manuf. and bleaches 4,448 

Newport Salmon, grouse & red-deer 1,235 

Killala Occupied by the French,™ 1,125 

* Roscommon, which signifies " Coman's Marsh/' is sup- 
posed to have derived its name from an abbey, founded here 
in a low situation by St. Coman, about the year 540. Ros 
also signifies " pleasant or agreeable/' and is to be under- 
stood in this sense in many of the Irish names of which it 
is the prefix. 

f Athlone is partly in Roscommon and partly in West 
Meath ; hence the reason of its being mentioned in both 
counties. Athlone derives its name from the Irish Ath, a 
ford, and Luath, or Luan, swift, probably in reference to 
the rapids, at the bridge over the Shannon. 

About six miles from Athlone, in West Meath, is the in- 
teresting village of Auburn, the subject of Goldsmith's beau- 
tiful poem, " The Deserted Village." 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 13 

Counties & cfy towns. Remarkable for. Population. 

Sligo Bullocks of the largest size 171,705 

Sligo Corn, butter & salmon 15,152 

Ballymote Encircled with beautiful 

hills 875 

Leitrim* Numerous herds of cattle 141,521 

Car rick-on- Good situation for trade 

Shannon 1,870 

Manor-Ham- Ruins of an ancient cas- 

ilton tie 1,318 

Leitrim Formerly a place of im- 

portance 274 

Islands. — Bathlin, North of Antrim; North 
Isles of Arran, West of Donegal; Achil,\Nest of 
Mayo ; Clare Island, at the mouth of Clew Bay ; 
South Isles of Arran, in Gal way Bay; Valentia, 
West of Kerry. 

Capes. — Mai in-Read, in Donegal; Fair- Head, 
in Antrim; Howth-IIead, in Dublin; Wiclclow- 
Head, in Wicklow ; Carnsore-Toifnt, in Wexford ; 
Cape-Clear and Mizzen-Head, in Cork; Ioojj- 
Ilead, in Clare; Slyne-IIead, in Galway; Achil- 
liead, and Urris-Eead, in Mayo. 

Mouni'ains. — The Mourne-Bange, in Down ; the 

* The counties of Leitrim and Cavan, 'with part of Fer- 
managh, comprised the ancient Brie/ne, the chief lords of 
which were the O'Piuarks, a name memorable in Irish 
history. 



14 GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 

SI 1 eve-Bloom, or Ard-na-ti Erin* mountains, in 
which the Suir, Nore, and Barrow, take their rise ; 
the Wicklow Mountains, in Wicklow; Nephm 
and Croagh-Patrick, in Mayo; Magillicuddg 's 
Becks, Carran-Tual, and Mangerton, in Kerry. 

Bays. — Carrickfergus Bag, or Belfast- Lough 
between Antrim and Down ; Strangford Bag, in 
Down ; Carlingford Bag, between Down and 
Louth ; Dundalk Bag in Louth ; Dublin Bag ; 
Bantrg and Duninanus Bags, South- West of 
Cork; Dingle and Tralee Bags, in Kerry; Gal- 
wag, between Clare and Galway ; Clew Bag, Black- 
sod Bag, and Killala Bag, in Mayo ; Donegal 
Bag, Lough Swillg, and Lough Fogle, in Ulster. 

Lakes. — Lough Keagh,^ between Antrim and 
Tyrone ; Lough Erne, in Fermanagh ; Loughs 
Allen, Bee, and Derg, through which the Shannon 
flows ; Lough Conn, in Mayo ; Lough Mask, be- 
tween Mayo and Galway ; Lmigh Corrib, in Gal- 
way ; and the Lakes of KiUarneg, in Kerry. 

Rivers.— The Fogle, between Donegal and 
Deny, falls into Lough Foyle ; the Bann flows 
through Lough Neagh, and separates Deny from 
Antrim ; the Lagan flows into Belfast Lough ; the 
Bogne, into Drogheda Bay ; the Liffeg, into Dub- 

* Ard-na-h'En'n, that is, " the height of Ireland, " a 
name this mountain obtained from a popular opinion that it 
was the most elevated point in the island. 

f Lough, or Loch, is the term used in Ireland and Scot- 
land for lake — Loch, in Irish, signifying a lake, or an arm 
of the sea. 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 15 

lin Bay; the Slaney, into Wexford Harbor; the 
Sttir, with its tributaries, the Barrow and Nore 
falls into Waterfard Harbor; the Blackwater fills 
into Youghal Harbor ; the Lee, into Cork Harbor ; 
the Shannon, the largest river in the United 
Kingdom, separates Clare from Limerick, and falls 
into the Atlantic Ocean, 

Chief Towns. — Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is 
divided by the LiiFey into nearly two equal parts ; 
is the second city in the United Kingdom, and, in 
point of external beauty, is surpassed by few others. 
Previous to the Union, Dublin contained a popula- 
tion of 300,000, and was the constant residence of 
two hundred and seventy-one spiritual and tem- 
poral peers, and three hundred members of the 
House of Commons. At present the population is 
only 204,000 ; and only G peers, and from 15 to 
20 members of Parliament, have settled dwellings 
within its precincts. The corporal municipal reform 
came into operation in 1841, and Daniel O'Con- 
nell, Esq., M.P., was elected Lord Mayor of Dub- 
blin, 1st November of that year. 

Cork, the second city in Ireland, derives its 
name from the Irish word Corcach, a marsh ; it 
stands on the Lee, which pours its waters through 
several channels into the harbor, which is one of 
the finest in Europe. The exports and imports are 
considerable. The scenery on the river, and around 
the city is extremely beautiful. 

Limerick, on the Shannon, ranks next to Cork. 
It consists of the old and new town, connected by 



16 GEOGRAPHY OP IRELAND. 

an elegant modern bridge. Its exports amount to 
75,000 tons annually. It is famous for the sieges 
it sustained against King William in 1690-1. 

Belfast, the principal town of Ulster, situated 
on the West side of the Lagan, has, within the last 
fifty years, risen to great importance. In com- 
merce, its exports and imports are very extensive ; 
its literary and scientific institutions are most re- 
spectable. 

Waterfordy situated on the South bank of the 
Suir, is remarkable for its fine harbor ; the depth 
of water in the river, up to its splendid quay, is 
so great that steamers can sail at low water. It 
has long been celebrated for its manufacture of 
white glass ; and its exports in cattle and provisions 
are considerable. One of the longest wooden bridges 
in Ireland connects it with county of Kilkenny. 

The other towns of note are : Galway, Kilkenny, 
Wexford, Sligo, Londonderry, and Clonmel. 

Climate and Soil. — The climate of Ireland is, 
perhaps, milder than that of any other country of 
equal extent in the same latitude. It cannot be 
called a mountainous country, though many of its 
eminences are of considerable elevation. The soil 
is exceedingly fertile; the atmosphere is more 
humid than that of England, owing, probably, to 
the prevailing Westerly winds from the Atlantic. 
By preserving a perpetual verdure, it has obtained 
the appellation of the Green, or Emerald Isle. 

Produce. — The chief productions are corn, flax, 
and potatoes in great abundance ; the latter being 
the principal food of the lower classes. The quan- 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 17 

tity of cultivated land exceeds, in proportion, that 
of England. The potato-garden, or ci.-rn-field, 
often ascends to the very summits of considerable 
heights. The bogs are numerous and extensive. 
occupying in many instances the sites of ancient 
forests, the remains of which are still dug out in 
large quantities. The turf, or peat, procured from 
them, is the fuel most in use throughout the 
country. 

One of the principal exports is fine linen, which 
is brought to great perfection. The quantity 
sent to England, in 1825, was 52,559,678 yards. 
The other chief exports are lawns, cambric >, yarn, 
and wool ; vast numbers of black cattle, pigs, green 
hides, ox and cow-horns, leather, beef, pork, but- 
ter, tallow, etc. The total value of exports, in 
1824, was £6,400,000. 

Zoology. — The animals peculiar to the island 
are, the large red-deer of the Killarney mountains, 
and the Irish grey-hound, or wolf-dog, which is 
now nearly extinct ; it is alluded to in almost every 
old poetic legend, or heroic ballad of the country. 
The coasts, lakes, and rivers, abound with fish. 
The exemption of the country from serpents and 
all venomous reptiles is well known. 

Mines. — The minerals are : iron, lead, silver, 
copper, and coal of a peculiar kind, useful in manu- 
factories. Large masses of native gold have been 
found in Wicklow. There are quarries of fine 
marble, porphyry, slate, freestone, etc., in various 
places. 



18 GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 

Curiosities.— Many curious round towers of 
great antiquity are found in several parts of the 
island. The origin and use of these towers have 
hitherto baffled the researches of antiquaries. The 
numerous venerable ruins of churches and monas- 
teries, and of castles built from the thirteenth to 
the 16th century, give a romantic and picturesque 
app eara nee to the co u ntry. The most remarkable na- 
tural curiosities are, the collection of basaltic col- 
umns, eight miles from Coleraine,on the coast of An- 
trim, called the " Giant's Causeway ;" the extensive 
caverns, near Mitch elstown, county Cork, and in other 
places; the exquisite scenery of the county Wicklow; 
the Killaraey lakes and mountains; and the majestic 
cliffs and numerous caverns, that line the Western 
coast, interspersed with sandy bays, which afford 
safe and agreeable accommodation for bathers. 

History. — The name, Ireland, appears to be 
a Gothic adaptation of the native term, Erin. 
The island was known to the Greeks by the name 
of Juvema, about two centuries before the Chris- 
tian era ; and to the Romans, by that of Hibernia, 
in the time of Caesar. It was originally governed 
by a number of independent native princes, subject, 
however, to one supreme monarch, who held his 
court and council at Tarali, in East Meath. The 
country suffered much from various invasions of 
the Vikingr, or sea kings, of the Danes, and other 
Northern pirates, between the eighth and eleventh 
centuries. They were finally overthrown, and 
their power annihilated, at the famous Battle of 
Clontarf, near Dublin, in 1014. The most re- 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 19 

markable amongst the native monarchs, previous 
to the arrival of the English, were, Ollamh Fodhla, 
celebrated for the wisdom of his laws and govern- 
ment, and Brian Bhoroime, whose character justly 
entitles him to rank with a Theodosius, an Alfred, 
or a Canutus. Iiis death, as glorious as his life 
was exemplary, occurred at the battle above-named. 
The first invasion of the English took place in 
1169, and was followed in 1172 by the arrival of 
Henry II, who took the title of Lord of Ireland. 
The English monarchs did not assume the title of 
King of Ireland, until the reign of the tyrannical 
Henry VIII. After that period, Ireland continued 
annexed to the crown of England, but possessed a 
distinct parliament until 1800, when the legisla- 
tures of both countries were incorporated by the 
act of Union. From the reign of Henry VIII. 
down to the present time, the principal events have 
been, the unsuccessful efforts made to suppress the 
Catholic religion, by enactments directed against 
life and property ; the repeated oppressions on one 
side, and insurrections on the other ; the invasion 
and tyrannies of Cromwell and his followers ; the 
calamitous battle of Athenry ; the struggles made 
on behalf of James II., and the heroic stand made 
at Limerick, against the arms of his successor, 
William III. ; the declaration of Irish Legislative 
Independence, by the British Parliament, in 1782 ; 
the attempts to shake off the English yoke iu 
1798; the act of Union, already referred to, in 
1800 ; and the act of Emancipation, by which the 
Catholics of both countries were admitted to an 



20 GEOGKAPHY OF IRELAND. 

equality of civil rights and privileges with their 
Protestant fellow-countrymen in 1829. Some re- 
serves, however, are still made in deference to 
prejudices, which it is hoped the progress of intel- 
ligence will finally remove. The executive power 
in Ireland is in the hands of a Lord Lieutenant. 
The revenue, in 1825, was £3,624,800. 

Religion. — Until the year of our Lord, 431, 
Ireland continued in the darkness of paganism, 
though somewhat less revolting in its practices 
than that which prevailed at the same period in 
other parts of Europe. The Irish Druids exercised 
the two-fold office of priest and poet ; and were, 
by their learning, vastly superior to their conti- 
nental brethren, who were prohibited to cultivate 
the use of letter-. In the year above-mentioned 
St. Celestine, Pope, the forty-fourth Bishop of 
Home, raised Palladius to the Episcopal dignity, 
and sent him with several companions, to preach 
the Gospel in this island. His success was partial : 
and he died as he was returning to Rome in the 
following year. He was succeeded in his mission 
by the celebrated St. Patrick, born a.d. 387, at 
Boulogne-sur-mer, in France. The labors and 
success of this great missionery in the conversion 
of the country, have justly obtained for him the 
title of Apostle of Ireland. 

With the sanction of the Holy See, and after 
having received Episcopal consecration, St. Patrick 
sailed for Ireland, and landed near Dublin. Not 
being immediately successful in this quarter, he 
took shipping again, and, proceeding Northwards? 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 21 

landed near Strangford, in the county Down. His 
first convert was a chieftain, named Dicho, who, 
with his whole family, was baptized, and who be- 
stowed on the Saint a house and lot of ground 
on which to build a church. The holy Missionary 
thence directed his steps successively through 
Leinster, Connaught, and Munster; establishing 
congregations, founding churches, and ordaining 
pastors, wherever he arrived, until a general alte- 
ration took place in the religious and moral aspect 
of the whole island. The See of Armagh, of which 
he was the first Bishop, has ever since retained the 
honors of (he primacy. Having devoted thirty- 
three years to the great work of conversion, he 
passed to his eternal reward, at his favorite retreat 
at Saul, in Ulster, a.d. 4C5, in the seventy-eighth 
year of his age. 

During the following centuries, the multitude 
of holy personages who trod in the way which he had 
taught, both in the ecclesiastical and religious state, 
was so great, and the sanctity of theirlives so eminent, 
as to merit for their country the appellation of the 
" Island of Saints." Amongst those whose sanc- 
tity was confessed, after their decease, by the 
universal Church, some of the most eminent were : 
St. Bridget, Abbess and foundress of many reli- 
gious houses throughout the island ; St. Kevin, 
Abbot of Glendalough ; St. Oolumbanus, the author 
of an admired rule, and of many elegant religious 
pieces in Latin, prose and verse, and the founder 
of many monastic houses on the continent, — 
amongst which that of Luxeu, in France, and of 



22 GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 

Bobbio, in Italy ; St. Columba, Abbot of Icolmkill 
or Iona, famed for his miracles, and surnamed the 
" Apostle of the Picts," from the success of his 
missionary labors in Scotland ; St. Mai achy. Pri- 
mate, of whose life an admirable record has been 
left us from the eloquent pen of St. Bernard, Abbot 
of Clairvaux, where St. Malachy expired; St. 
Laurence O'Toole, etc. To enumerate the apos- 
tolic men whom, during those early ages of fervor, 
Ireland sent forth to labor for the salvation of 
souls, in various nations of Europe, would here be 
out of place. Suffice it to say, that their names 
and their works are still preserved in many of the 
countries which reaped the advantages of their 
holy zeal. Even at the present day, her mission- 
aries are spread over the face of the earth. 

But it was not alone for her sanctity, nor for 
the great number of her children who were enrol- 
led amongst the canonized Saints of the Church, 
that Ireland at this period was distinguished. It 
became at the same time the mart of sacred learn- 
ing and the school of Christendom. The univer- 
sities of Paris and Pavia owe their origin to the 
learning and industry of Clement and John, both 
natives of Ireland. The Irish, since their conver- 
sion, have been conspicuous for their devoted at- 
tachment to the faith ; from which, not all the 
horrors of sanguinary persecution, nor the blan- 
dishments of proselytism, have ever been able to 
separate the great body of the people ; over seven 
millions, out of the eight and a half, composing 



GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 23 

the population, are in communion with the Holy 
and Apostolic See of Rome. 

Literature. — The literature of Ireland has 
claims to a venerable antiquity, the use of letters 
having been known here long before the Christian 
era. From Ireland the Anglo-Saxons derived 
their first enlightenment ; and till the thirteenth 
century, literature in Scotland continued to be 
the special province of the Irish clergy. The 
English language is generally understood and 
spoken throughout the island. The Irish, or 
Gaelic, is still retained in many parts, particularly 
in Minister and Gonnaught. The love of the Irish 
people for learning is proverbial ; yet this was a 
desire which, until lately, they could not gratify 
except by stealth, or a sacrifice of principle. Trin- 
ity College, Dublin, and the University of Ireland, 
are the only universities in Ireland. The Catholic 
colleges are : the College of All Hallows ; the 
Royal College of Maynooth, founded by the Irish 
Parliament in 1795 ; those of Carlow, Waterfo-rd, 
Wexford, Kilkenny, Thurles, Tuam, Clogher, Clon- 
gowes Wood, and Castle-Knock. The seminaries 
and public schools are exceedingly numerous, and 
the course of education very extensive. The es- 
tablishments in which respectable females receive 
their education, are generally well conducted. 
Those under the management of religious commu- 
nities, possess the peculiar advantage of com- 
bining religious instruction with every other branch 
of female education. Ladies of the first rank are 
educated in those sanctuaries of innocence and 



24 GEOGRAPHY OF IRELAND. 

virtue, " who," as a late venerable member of our 
hierarchy remarks, " in after life, become the in- 
struments of diffusing piety and happiness around 
them." 

There is scarcely a parish without a male and 
female gratuitous school, under the immediate con- 
trol of the parish priest, or in connection with the 
National Board. The Brothers of the Christian 
Schools have extensive establishments in Dublin, 
Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Carrick-on-Suir, Dun- 
garvan, Thurles, etc. The Nuns of the Presentation 
Order, and the Sisters of Charity and of Mercy, 
are extending branches of their Orders to the 
principal cities and towns of the country, and at- 
tending with maternal tenderness to the moral 
and physical destitution ot thousands of their sex, 
whose lowly condition particularly requires the aid 
of religious instruction, to fortify and console them 
under their many privations. 

Character. — In stature, the Irish are generally 
above the middle size, are athletic and well formed. 
They are of quick comprehension, warm-hearted, 
brave almost to rashness, and remarkable for cour- 
tesy and hospitality to strangers. In cheerfulness 
under privations, and in sprig htliness of disposi- 
tion, they approach nearer to the French than the 
English or Scotch. There is no country where 
domestic virtues are more fondly cherished. Ire- 
land can claim as her own a host of men who have 
distinguished themselves by their learning, their 
brilliancy of genius and their eloquence. 



19 Fept.1860 . 



WALS 



iS^.SI°F....?ONGRESS . 



021 376 837 2 



JL± KJ 



COMPLETE MAP OF IRELAND. 

Just Published and for sale by all Canvassers and Dealers, shows 
eacn County in Colors, names each City, Town, Townland, Moun- 
tain, Harbor, Bay, Lake and River in Ireland ; also, the lines of 
Railroads, &c, &c. 

Of the accuracy and of the execution of the workmanship of 
this map it is enough to say that it is said to have been origi- 
nally drawn and engraved by Sidney Hall and William Hughes, under 
the superintendence of the eminent Irish engineer, Thomas Dargen, 
Esq. and is known as Ireland in Counties. 

No expense has been spared in the getting up of this copyright : 

Only Complete Map oi Ireland Ever Published. 

In connection with this map the subscriber has published a Geog ■ 
raphy of Ireland, written by the Christian Brothers, which gives the 
population and product of each Town, and County in Ireland, and 
the birth places of the eminent Ecclesiastics of Irish birth, in this 
country. 

SIZE OF THE MAP, 20 BY 24, 

Beautifully illustrated and embellished with National Emblems. 

TRADE PRICES: 

It will be sold at the following rates : 

Mounted on Rollers, for offices and schools, at - - - - $1 50 
Do. do. with Geography of Ireland, by the 
Christian Brothers, attached by cord, 2 00 

Stretched and gelatined, in colors, 1 50 

Do. do. with Geography of Ireland, by the 
Christian Brothers, attached by cord, 2 00 

POCKET EDITION: 

Bound neatly in Cloth, gilt sides, - 75 

" " imitation morocco, 1 00 

" " " turkey, 'tuck, 1 25 

" " turkey morocco, tuck, full gilt, - - - - 1 75 

Agents, Canvassers, Dealers, and the Trade generally, supplied 

on tne most reasonable terms, according to the quantity purchased. 

JOHN P. WALSH, 

No. 170 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. 



